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cnbc.com
Jeffrey Epstein has sparked a political crisis threatening the UK government. Here's what's happening
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced calls from some of his own Labour lawmakers to step down in recent days.
cnbc.com
EPA set to revoke 'endangerment finding' that underpins all climate regulation
The endangerment finding gives the EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gases by deeming they pose a risk to public health and welfare.
cnbc.com
Coca-Cola forecasts modest growth amid demand concerns
Like rival PepsiCo, Coke has seen demand for its drinks fall as budget-conscious shoppers try to save more on their grocery bills.
cnbc.com
BP suspends share buyback plan in fresh sign of oil price pressure
BP on Tuesday posted fourth-quarter profit in line with expectations, after crude prices dipped below $60 a barrel for the first time in nearly five years.
cnbc.com
'Despicable and reprehensible': China lashes out at UK expansion of visa scheme following Jimmy Lai conviction
The diplomatic tensions came after pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in one of the city's most prominent prosecutions.
cnbc.com
Treasury yields fall after retail sales miss expectations
The 10-year Treasury yield inched lower as investors looked ahead to retail sales data for December coming out later in the day.
theguardian.com
Will the Gulf’s push for its own AI succeed?
Tech giants Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta to collectively invest $600bn on artificial intelligence this yearHello, and welcome to TechScape. Today in tech, we’re discussing the Persian Gulf countries making a play for sovereignty over their own artificial intelligence in response to an unstable United States. That, and US tech giants’ plans to spend more than $600bn this year alone.Bitcoin loses half its value in three months amid crypto crunchHow cryptocurrency’s second-largest coin missed out on the industry’s boomFiles cast light on Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to cryptocurrencyWhy has Elon Musk merged his rocket company with his AI startup?Hail our new robot overlords! Amazon warehouse tour offers glimpse of futureSocial media companies are being sued for harming their users’ mental health – but are the platforms addictive?Anthropic’s launch of AI legal tool hits shares in European data companies Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Kalshi says Super Bowl trading volume surpassed $1 billion
Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour said Tuesday that the platform's Super Bowl trading volume exceeded $1 billion, up 2,700% year-over-year.
theguardian.com
More pollution and higher energy costs: critics condemn Trump’s anti-environment agenda
US courts, scholars and Democrats are pushing back against the president’s aggressive drive to boost fossil fuelsDonald Trump’s aggressive drive to boost fossil fuels, including dirty coal, coupled with his administration’s moves to roll back wind and solar power, face mounting fire from courts, scholars and Democrats for raising the cost of electricity and worsening the climate crisis.Four judges, including a Trump appointee, in recent weeks have issued temporary injunctions against interior department moves to halt work on five offshore wind projects in Virginia, New York and New England, which have cost billions of dollars and are far along in development. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Apple and Google pledge not to discriminate against third-party apps in UK deal
Critics brand deal with regulator as ‘lightweight’ with ‘no legal bite’ as tech giants avoid legally binding measures Apple and Google have committed to avoid discriminating against apps that compete with their own products under an agreement with the UK’s competition watchdog, as they avoided legally binding measures for their mobile platforms.The US tech companies have vowed to be more transparent about vetting third-party apps before letting them on their app stores and not discriminate against third-party apps in app search rankings. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Apple and Google agree to change app stores after 'effective duopoly' claim
The UK's markets regulator says the proposed commitments "will boost the UK's app economy".
cnbc.com
Philips shares pop 8% amid 'clear step up in sales'; European stocks mixed
European stocks were mixed Tuesday amid a flurry of corporate earnings releases.
theguardian.com
AstraZeneca CEO hails NHS drug price deal but keeps pause on £200m UK investment
Pascal Soriot suggests UK-US agreement will not be enough to revive plan to expand Cambridge siteBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of Britain’s biggest pharmaceutical company has said the government’s recent drug pricing deal is a “very positive step” but is unlikely to unfreeze a paused £200m investment in Cambridge.AstraZeneca’s chief executive, Pascal Soriot, suggested that a UK-US deal on NHS pricing agreed in December would not be “sufficient” to restart the project to build a research site in the east of England, which was paused in September. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Barclays CEO ‘shocked’ by Epstein revelations as bank deals with Staley fallout
CS Venkatakrishnan dismayed by ‘depravity and corruption’ revealed in Epstein files as he announces profitsBusiness live – latest updatesThe chief executive of Barclays has said he is “deeply dismayed and shocked” at the “depravity and the corruption” revealed in the Epstein files, as the bank deals with the fallout of its ex-boss Jes Staley’s ties to the convicted child sex offender.In his first public comments on the matter since the US Department of Justice began publishing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein in December, CS Venkatakrishnan said his thoughts went out to the victims of Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting child sex trafficking charges. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Wegovy maker sues rival over 'knock-off' weight-loss drugs
Novo Nordisk says Hims & Hers' drugs breach its patent; Hims & Hers calls the lawsuit a "blatant attack".
theguardian.com
UK backs biggest English onshore windfarm in a decade among 190 green energy projects
Government also offers contracts for record number of solar schemes as it aims to create clean electricity system by 2030Business live – latest updatesThe largest onshore windfarm in England in a decade has been awarded a government subsidy among 190 contracts for renewable energy projects, as Labour attempts to hit a goal of creating a virtually zero carbon power grid within four years.The government said it would offer contracts to a record number of solar projects alongside support for onshore windfarms including the huge Imerys project near St Austell in Cornwall. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
China's Alibaba launches AI model to power robots as tech giants talk up 'physical AI'
Nvidia and Google are among a handful of major tech giants developing models for robotics and so-called "phyiscal AI."
bbc.com
BP steps up cost cutting as profits slide
The oil giant also suspends its share buyback programme ahead of the arrival of its new boss.
theguardian.com
No, the human-robot singularity isn’t here. But we must take action to govern AI | Samuel Woolley
Moltbook, a social media site for AI agents, is nothing new. Still, the marriage of big tech and politics demands we take a standOn a recent trip to the San Francisco Bay Area, I was shocked by the billboards that lined the freeway outside of the airport. “The singularity is here,” proclaimed one. “Humanity had a good run,” said another. It seemed like every other sign along the road was plastered with claims from tech firms making outrageous claims about artificial intelligence. The ads, of course, were rife with hype and ragebait. But the claims they contain aren’t occurring in a vacuum. The OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, recently said: “We basically have built AGI, or very close to it,” before confusingly qualifying his statement as “spiritual”. Elon Musk has gone even further, claiming: “We have entered the singularity.”Enter Moltbook, the social media site built for AI agents. A place where bots can talk to other bots, in other words. A spate of doom-laden news articles and op-eds followed its launch. The authors fretted about the fact that the bots were talking about religion, claiming to have secretly spent their human builders’ money, and even plotting the overthrow of humanity. Many pieces contained suggestions eerily like those on the billboards in San Francisco: that machines are now not only as smart as humans (a theory known as artificial general intelligence) but that they are moving beyond us (a sci-fi concept known as the singularity).Samuel Woolley is the author of Manufacturing Consensus: Understanding Propaganda in the Era of Automation and Anonymity and co-author of Bots. He is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
BT replaces Openreach boss in latest management shake-up
Katie Milligan replaces Clive Selley, who oversaw £12bn rollout of full fibre broadband to 25m homesBusiness live – latest updatesThe head of BT’s infrastructure arm, Openreach, is to step down after nearly a decade, having almost completed a £12bn rollout of full fibre broadband to 25m homes.Clive Selley, who was tasked by the former BT chief Philip Jansen to “build like fury” to address the UK’s status as global laggard in the introduction of high-speed broadband, will become the boss of BT’s international division. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Gucci-owner Kering jumps 12% as new CEO maps revival, sales beats estimates
The luxury group said it sees a return to growth this year even as it posted another quarter of sales declines.
theguardian.com
BP halts share buy-backs as annual profits slide
Pressure mounts on oil and gas company as it aims for turnaround under new chief executiveBusiness live – latest updatesBP has halted share buybacks after reporting weaker annual profits as it prepares to continue a plan to resuscitate its fortunes under a new chief executive.The company became the first large oil company to suspend its buybacks after its underlying earnings fell to just below $7.5bn (£5.5bn) for 2025, down from almost $9bn for 2024. Continue reading...
bbc.com
More solar farms on the way after record renewables auction
The results have been welcomed by climate and clean energy groups but could face opposition from local communities.
theguardian.com
Telstra joint venture to axe more than 200 jobs amid AI rollout
Some jobs will be moved offshore in wake of telco’s $700m partnership with tech consultancy AccentureGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore than 200 Telstra jobs are expected to be cut, as the telco rolls out AI capabilities and sends some jobs to India.Telstra and the technology consultancy Accenture announced a $700m joint venture (JV) in 2025 to drive efficiency, modernisation and productivity. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Europeans shunning US as Emirates and Asia travel prove popular, says Tui
Travel company reports lower demand for US amid signs Trump immigration crackdown is deterring travellersBusiness live – latest updatesEuropeans are booking fewer trips to the US, Europe’s biggest travel operator has said, as appetite for long-haul travel wanes and concerns linger around Donald Trump’s immigration policies.Tui, which receives most of its bookings from customers in Europe, has seen “significantly lower demand” for travel into the US, according to its chief executive, Sebastian Ebel. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Japan's Nikkei 225 closes at record high as Asian stock markets mostly rise
Japanese stock gains have been fueled by the "Takaichi trade" after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's landslide victory in the Lower House.
theguardian.com
£700m plan with ‘fish disco’ could save 90% of marine life, says Hinkley Point C study
Scientists find underwater acoustic project to stop fish being sucked into cooling systems could save 44 tonnes a yearScientists have found that plans that include a “fish disco” to deter migratory marine life from the nearby Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor could help save 90% of fish from the power plant’s water intake pipes – but the measures are set to cost its developer £700m.EDF Energy, which is building the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in Somerset, said research it commissioned from scientists at Swansea University had found that using an acoustic deterrent system helped to ward off the “vast majority” of fish it tagged for the experiment. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: U.S. markets rise on tech rebound, while 'Takaichi trade' lifts Japanese stocks
U.S. markets closed higher overnight as Big Tech stocks mostly rebounded, with Oracle jumping 9.6% and Microsoft advancing 3.1%.
bbc.com
Instagram and YouTube owners built 'addiction machines', trial hears
The tech giants are under scrutiny over social media addiction in a landmark jury trial in Los Angeles
theguardian.com
State-sponsored hackers targeting defence sector employees, Google says
Cyber-espionage campaigns are targeting employees directly, including through hiring processes, report claimsDefence companies, their hiring processes and their employees have become a key target of state-sponsored cyber-espionage campaigns, according to a report from Google released before the Munich Security Conference.The report catalogues a “relentless barrage of cyber operations”, most by state-sponsored groups, against EU and US industrial supply chains. It suggests the range of targets for these hackers has grown to encompass the broader industrial base of the US and Europe –from German aerospace firms to UK carmakers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
EasyJet refuses to honour a promised £472 refund
We had to buy a new ticket after an air traffic control outage but the airline is giving endless excuses for not repaying usThe day before my easyJet flight to Budapest last July, a UK air traffic control outage caused significant disruption at Gatwick.On my arrival at the airport check-in, easyJet staff refused to issue me with a boarding pass because a smaller aircraft, with fewer seats, had had to be substituted. This left 35 passengers unable to board. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
'Impossible': Taiwan pushes back against Washington’s 40% chip supply relocation goal
Taiwan has told Washington that its proposal to move 40% of Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain is "impossible," according to Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun.
bbc.com
How £50m 'fish disco' could save farmland
Innovative tech scares fish away from nuclear cooling pipes.
theguardian.com
My week of only using cash: could a return to notes and coins change my life?
After a reckless shopping spree, I ditched contactless payments and bank cards to see how far £200 cash in hand would get me – and if I could improve my spending habitsIf I’m lucky, I can just about squeeze a £20 note into the back of my phone case, which holds the device I reflexively tap to pay for almost everything. But this week was different. After a reckless coffee-and-clothing spending spree made a mighty dent in my bank account, I decided I needed to take action. Self-control was one option, but another more drastic route was blunt-force restriction. I would ditch contactless payments, along with debit and credit cards. Instead, I would spend a week relying solely on cash.After subtracting the lavish lattes and Asos deliveries that had massively inflated my average weekly spend, I allowed myself £180 for the basics, including food and travel. For safety, I gave myself an extra £20. The first task was to take out £200 in cash from the ATM. But what the hell was my pin number? Thanks to contactless capabilities, I hadn’t used this all-important combination of digits in more than a year. Googling how to find it, I discovered I’d have to wait three to five working days to get a letter reminding me of it in the post. This wouldn’t do. I decided to head to my local bank to explain my predicament. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
South Korean crypto exchange races to recover $40bn of bitcoin sent to customers by mistake
Bithumb has apologised for staff error that sent customers 620,000 bitcoins instead of 620,000 Korean won, equivalent to a few hundred US dollarsSouth Korea’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange is scrambling to recover more than $40bn of cryptocurrency after accidentally crediting customers with 620,000 bitcoins during a promotional event last week.Bithumb said it had corrected most of the mistaken credits, but that about 13bn won ($9m) remained unrecovered after some recipients sold or withdrew the funds before the error was detected. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
SoftBank shares surge 10% after telecom unit lifts outlook, Arm strength bolsters AI narrative
Shares of SoftBank Group Corp jumped over 10% after its telecom arm raised its full-year profit outlook and renewed optimism around Arm Holdings.
cnbc.com
South Korea's largest defense firm Hanwha Aerospace slumps 6% as revenue, pre-tax profit miss estimates
Hanwha missed revenue and pre-tax profit estimates, but beat net profit expectations.
bbc.com
US to exempt some Bangladeshi clothes from tariffs
The White House agreed to carve out exemptions for US-produced cotton from Bangladesh.
cnbc.com
YouTube star MrBeast buys youth-focused financial services app Step
YouTube star James Stephen Donaldson, better known as Mr. Beast, has acquired youth-focused financial services app Step.
cnbc.com
Trump bashed Epstein to Palm Beach police during first investigation, called Maxwell 'evil,' record shows
A former police chief said President Donald Trump was among the first people to call him when people learned Jeffrey Epstein was under investigation in 2006.
cnbc.com
U.S. urges ships to stay 'as far as possible' from Iran's waters in Strait of Hormuz after boarding attempts
The U.S. told American-flagged ships to stay "as far as possible" from Iranian waters when navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Takaichi and the AI trade in focus this week
The Takaichi trade is fueled by expectations that her policies will boost equities, while weakening the yen as she prefers looser monetary policy.
cnbc.com
Novo Nordisk sues Hims & Hers over copycat versions of Wegovy drugs; Hims stock falls 18%
Novo is asking the court to permanently ban Hims from selling compounded versions of its drugs that infringe patents, and is seeking to recover damages.
bbc.com
Why food fraud persists, even with improving tech
Even with sophisticated technology it is still difficult to detect fake foods.
cnbc.com
Epstein's Silicon Valley connections went beyond Gates and Musk
The new Epstein files released by the DOJ show that the deceased financier was able to build relationships across Silicon Valley, from Bill Gates to Peter Thiel.
bbc.com
Japan has given Takaichi a landslide win - but can she bring back the economy?
Japan has been battling sluggish growth, mounting public debt and a rapidly ageing workforce.
cnbc.com
Sam Altman touts ChatGPT's reaccelerating growth to employees as OpenAI closes in on $100 billion funding
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told employees that ChatGPT's monthly growth is back above 10%, as competition ramps up in generative AI.
bbc.com
Target slashes 500 jobs as retailer seeks to invest in its stores
Executives said the reductions were part of a restructuring meant to help fix stagnant sales.
cnbc.com
Oracle gains 9%, Microsoft climbs 3% as tech tries to bounce back from $1 trillion sell-off
AI hyperscalers had a bruising week after investors got jittery about huge expenditure outlooks.
cnbc.com
Cuba says international airlines can no longer refuel there as Trump turns up the pressure
The update comes shortly after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on any country that supplies Cuba with oil.
theguardian.com
NatWest is chasing the mass affluent wallet. So is everyone else | Nils Pratley
Bank snares biggest acquisition since it was bailed out by taxpayers in 2008 but it isn’t cheap – and may be slow to pay offNatWest to buy wealth manager Evelyn Partners for £2.7bnAnnounce a £2.7bn acquisition and watch your stock market value fall by £3.1bn.NatWest picked a bad day to announce its big move in the fashionable field of “wealth management” – the noise from Westminster created a poor backdrop for UK assets such as gilts and domestic banks. But the main problem with its Evelyn Partners deal is that it is very much of the “one for the long term” variety. The terms are not obviously cheap. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Jimmy Lai: will Hong Kong media tycoon die in jail? – The Latest
The media mogul and prominent pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong for national security offences. His family has described the sentence as ‘heartbreakingly cruel’, given the 78-year-old’s declining health. Lai was convicted in December on charges of sedition and conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, after pleading not guilty to all charges. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s senior China correspondent, Amy Hawkins – watch on YouTube Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Scottish Labour leader calls for Keir Starmer to resign as PM – video
Anas Sarwar, the leader of the Labour party in Scotland, called on Monday for Keir Starmer to resign, saying the government's failures had 'drowned out' its accomplishments. Calls for the prime minister's resignation have been growing this week after new Epstein files revelations about Peter Mandelson, who was appointed US ambassador by StarmerUK politics live – latest updates Continue reading...
bbc.com
Make-up brand Barry M bought by rival Warpaint
The cosmetics and nail varnish line was one of the last family-owned make-up firms in the UK.
cnbc.com
Databricks completes $5 billion funding round at $134 billion valuation
Databricks is prepared to go public "when the time is right," CEO and co-founder Ali Ghodsi told CNBC in an interview.
theguardian.com
‘We’re being turned into an energy colony’: Argentina’s nuclear plan faces backlash over US interests
Push to restart uranium mining in Patagonia has sparked fears about the environmental impact and loss of sovereignty over key resourcesOn an outcrop above the Chubut River, one of the few to cut across the arid Patagonian steppe of southern Argentina, Sergio Pichiñán points across a wide swath of scrubland to colourful rock formations on a distant hillside.“That’s where they dug for uranium before, and when the miners left, they left the mountain destroyed, the houses abandoned, and nobody ever studied the water,” he says, citing suspicions arising from cases of cancer and skin diseases in his community. “If they want to open this back up, we’re all pretty worried around here.” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
A new town for the 21st century? Seven-village build to begin after 20-year journey
Gilston in Hertfordshire aims to be rebuke to cookie-cutter estates with network of 10,000 new homes within country parks and woodlandAfter two decades of legal wrangling and planning bottlenecks, the first bricks will finally be laid on a project being hailed by developers as the blueprint for the future of community building in Britain.Gilston in east Hertfordshire will be transformed into a network of seven interconnected villages, comprising 10,000 new homes nestled within a sprawling 660-hectare (1,630-acre) landscape of country parks and woodland. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
NatWest to buy wealth manager Evelyn Partners for £2.7bn
Banking group beats Barclays to snare biggest acquisition since it was bailed out by taxpayers in 2008Nils Pratley: NatWest is chasing the mass affluent wallet. So is everyone elseNatWest has agreed a £2.7bn deal to buy Evelyn Partners, one of the UK’s biggest wealth managers, in the bank’s largest acquisition since it was bailed out by taxpayers in 2008.The move signals an attempt to bolster the wealth management business for the banking group, which returned to full private ownership last year, and already owns the private bank Coutts. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Meta warned EU plans to impose measures on tech giant to reverse WhatsApp AI policy
The move follows the European Commission announcing an investigation in December into whether the social media giant had breached antitrust rules.
theguardian.com
EU threatens to act over Meta blocking rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp
Firm accused of ‘abusing’ its dominant position for messaging in what appears to be breach of antitrust rulesThe EU has threatened to take action against the social media company Meta, arguing it has blocked rival chatbots from using its WhatsApp messaging platform.The European Commission said on Monday that WhatsApp Business – which is designed to be used by businesses to interact with customers – appears to be in breach of EU antitrust rules. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Businesses face extinction unless they protect nature, major report warns
Experts call for urgent action by businesses to restore the natural systems that keep them running.
cnbc.com
A 'quiet revolution': Why young people are swapping social media for lunch dates, vinyl records and brick phones
Gen Z and millennials deleting their social media platforms cite the increasing pressures of being online as well as the damage to their mental health.
cnbc.com
S&P is already predicting China's property slump will be worse than it expected this year
S&P Global Ratings said China's primary real estate sales will likely drop by 10% to 14% this year, steeper than the decline predicted back in October.
theguardian.com
Experts sound alarm over UK exports to firm linked to Russian war machine
Exclusive: Multimillion-pound contract raises concerns about controls designed to prevent firms unwittingly aiding destruction of UkraineThe government has been urged to re-examine a British company’s contract to export hi-tech machinery to Armenia, after the Guardian uncovered links to the supply chain for Russia’s war machine.Sanctions experts and the chair of the House of Commons business committee questioned the government’s decision to award an export licence to Cygnet Texkimp. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s like two divorcing parents’: how actors’ union Equity fell out with casting directory Spotlight
Union to appeal after losing case against historic talent index in battle that could reshape UK acting landscapeFor almost a century it has been the casting directors’ bible, a shopfront for actors from Laurence Olivier, Olivia Colman and Daniel Craig to the 16-year-old Adolescence star Owen Cooper to help land their next theatre, film or TV role.But now Spotlight is locked in a costly legal battle prompted by Equity, the equally venerable union that represents tens of thousands of performers that rely on the casting directory’s services, in an internecine conflict that could dramatically reshape the UK acting landscape. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Economic growth is still heating the planet. Is there any way out?
Rising GDP continues to mean more carbon emissions and wider damage to the planet. Can the two be decoupled?During Cop30 negotiations in Brazil last year, delegates heard a familiar argument: rising emissions are unavoidable for countries pursuing growth.Since the first Cop in the 1990s, developing nations have had looser reduction targets to reflect the economic gap between them and richer countries, which emitted millions of tonnes of CO2 as they pulled ahead. The concession comes from the idea that an inevitable cost of prosperity is environmental harm. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Japanese stocks surge as Takaichi secures historic election victory
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party secured 316 out of 465 seats in Sunday's election.
cnbc.com
Yen near 160, a record Nikkei 225, higher yields: What experts expect after Sanae Takaichi's landslide victory
Takaichi led the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to a supermajority in the Lower House, securing 316 seats in Japan's largest election win since World War Two.
cnbc.com
Private credit worries resurface in $3 trillion market as AI pressures software firms
Artificial intelligence is adding a new layer of uncertainty to the private credit industry, raising concerns that some lenders may face rising defaults.
theguardian.com
Southern Water admits 18-year meter mix-up – but insists we owe it more
It kept on billing us for a neighbouring house’s supply although I live alone at my grandmother’s homeI’m currently renting my grandmother’s house while she is in a care home with dementia.Soon after I moved in, I was hit with a £614 quarterly water bill from Southern Water. I was already paying £62 a month in direct debits but was apparently falling short. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Donation appeal as vulnerable face food bank delay
A mental health support team set up a pantry in Wolverhampton to help those living in food poverty.
theguardian.com
A broken high street and its billionaire owners
The whole town centre of Newton Aycliffe in County Durham is owned by billionaire brothers – so why is it so run down? Josh Halliday reportsThe Guardian’s northern editor, Josh Halliday, recently went to Newton Aycliffe, a town in County Durham, to talk to residents about their high street. They hated it, they told him: there were too many boarded-up shops, the banks had closed and the whole place looked miserable. And yet, Josh discovered, the high street – and the whole of the town centre – was owned by billionaires.Newton Aycliffe was a new town and when it was built, the high street was supposed to be the jewel in the crown. Today, Josh tells Helen Pidd, “it feels a bit like a ghost town. When I was doing the reporting for this story I was counting the shops: how many there were, which ones were vacant. A teacher spotted my notebook and he just said to me, ‘it’s disgusting, isn’t it?’” Continue reading...
bbc.com
The shadowy world of abandoned oil tankers
A growing number of tankers and other commercial vessels are being ditched by their owners.
bbc.com
The tech firms embracing a 72-hour working week
In the race for AI, tech firms are asking for their staff to work long hours. But there are risks, experts say.
bbc.com
Plane makers chase Asia's super-rich with luxe new private jets
Parts of the aviation industry are shifting towards wealthy customers and selling a more luxurious type of international travel.
bbc.com
Apprenticeship clearing system to be introduced
The prime minister said "outdated assumptions about how to make it into a successful career" have held young people back.
theguardian.com
Ella Baron on Jeff Bezos’s cuts to the Washington Post – cartoon
Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on the scramble for critical minerals: while powers vie for access, labourers die | Editorial
A mining disaster in the Democratic Republic of Congo underscores the human cost of extraction. Intensified competition for resources isn’t helpingWhen Donald Trump boasted recently that he had stopped the conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – though fighting persists in the DRC, at appalling human cost – he made clear that his goals went beyond a long-sought Nobel Peace prize.“They said to me, ‘Please, please, we would love you to come and take our minerals.’ Which we’ll do,” the US president added. Now he is following through. Last Monday he launched a new strategic reserve plan, “Project Vault”, worth almost $12bn. Two days later, JD Vance hosted a summit seeking to create a trade zone for critical minerals. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Counting the real cost of student debt | Letters
Concerns about the cultural damage being done by the student loan system are raised by Prof Vaughan Grylls Your coverage of the dispute between Martin Lewis and the chancellor touches a deeper issue that deserves far more attention (Student loans: why is Martin Lewis clashing with Rachel Reeves?, 3 February).Student “loans” are not really loans. They are, in substance, a graduate tax – compulsory for all but the wealthy, income‑linked, unavoidable and often long‑lasting. Calling them loans is not neutral language; it is a political convenience that removes them from proper democratic scrutiny. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
US companies accused of ‘AI washing’ in citing artificial intelligence for job losses
While AI is having an impact on the workplace, experts suggest tariffs, overhiring during the pandemic and simply maximising profits may be bigger factorsOver the last year, US corporate leaders have often explained layoffs by saying the positions were no longer needed because artificial intelligence had made their companies more efficient, replacing humans with computers.But some economists and technology analysts have expressed skepticism about such justifications and instead think that such workforce cuts are driven by factors like the impact of tariffs, overhiring during the Covid-19 pandemic and perhaps simple maximising of profits. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Mandelson revelations show need for tougher UK constraints to resist rule of the rich | Heather Stewart
Labour must protect democracy and learn lessons from Jeffrey Epstein’s efforts to influence government policy Peter Mandelson’s personal disgrace is deep and unique, and may yet bring down a prime minister – but by laying bare the dark allure of the “filthy rich”, it also underlines the need for tougher constraints on money in politics.It is hard to know what system or process could have shielded sensitive government decisions from the risk that a senior cabinet minister might nonchalantly pass on the details to a friend, the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Thinking of trashing a small business on social media? Please, think again | Gene Marks
Online pile-ons can destroy small businesses. Save the derision for big companies that can weather social media stormsA viral Reddit post mocks a $22 grilled cheese sandwich and helps to sink a Bay Area shop. A restaurant owner is forced to push back on a viral complaint. A small business owner in Maine faces a viral backlash after posting a “No ICE” sign. The owner of a furniture store mistakenly receives backlash after being confused with another store. An influencer calls out a South Carolina boutique in a TikTok video after a negative shopping experience.I have had countless bad experiences at small businesses. I have eaten cold pasta and seen mice scurry behind a table. I don’t go back. Sometimes, when the experience is particularly great, I’ll give a quick good review on Google. But when I have had a bad experience? Never. Ever. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It has to be amazing’: Liberty links with Bridgerton as it capitalises on maximalist trend
Department store’s retail boss reveals how it is thriving by focusing on unique items and tie-ups from Adidas to Grayson PerryOn a damp Thursday in central London, shoppers have fled the rain to indulge in some Bridgerton-themed escapism at upmarket department store Liberty, which has dedicated its fourth floor to the raunchy period drama.“When customers come to Liberty they want the discovery of new brands or something a bit different,” says Lydia King, Liberty’s new retail managing director. Continue reading...
bbc.com
City volunteers seek drivers for meal deliveries
Friends of Di's Kitchen provides hundreds of meals each week in Wolverhampton.
theguardian.com
‘Don’t lose your 12,739 points!’ The text scams cashing in on bogus rewards
Scam message claims points will expire in days so click through to claim your prize – just pay the postageYou get a text message with some good news: your mobile provider has been operating a rewards programme and you have earned almost 13,000 points.You haven’t heard of the scheme before but since so many of the operators have rewards plans, you assume you must just have missed it. When you click on the link, you arrive at a site branded with your operator’s logo and find you can cash in your points for a new massage chair or a high-end vacuum cleaner, among other items. All you have to do is pay the postage. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘We need to accept the cost’: future of British Steel unclear as bills for government build up
Propping up operations at Scunthorpe site, still legally owned by Jingye, now costs over £1.2m a day – so what are the options?British Steel was losing £700,000 a day last year when its Chinese owner announced plans to shut the steelworks at Scunthorpe. After Jingye rejected support to buy raw materials, the UK government stepped in with emergency legislation to take control of the plant.But that was not the end of the crisis. The cost to the government of propping up British Steel is now more than £1.2m a day. Yet the £359m bill, the latest disclosed to parliament last month, may only be the start. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How Britain became a fried chicken nation
An internet craze for American-style chicken has come to the UK, but what does it mean for traditional chippies?
theguardian.com
UK trade policy: time to stop the secret deals and get systematic
Liam Byrne is echoing Robin Cook’s ethical trade policy, warning the UK needs deals more open to scrutiny to prevent future issuesTrade can be a dirty business. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was tolerated as a “special representative for trade and investment” in the noughties despite allegations that he kept convicted gun smugglers for friends, while Peter Mandelson’s ability to schmooze the rich and famous repeatedly overruled concerns about his probity.To close a deal, there are always compromises to be made, and sometimes the terms are unsavoury. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Why has Elon Musk merged his rocket company with his AI startup?
SpaceX’s acquisition of xAI creates business worth $1.25tn but whether premise behind deal will work is questionedThe acquisition of xAI by SpaceX is a typical Elon Musk deal: big numbers backed by big ambition.As well as extending “the light of consciousness to the stars”, as Musk described it, the transaction creates a business worth $1.25tn (£920bn) by combining Musk’s rocket company with his artificial intelligence startup. It values SpaceX at $1tn and xAI at $250bn, with a stock market flotation expected in June to time with Musk’s birthday and a planetary alignment. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Plainly wrong’: London flat dwellers fight shock £200,000 heating bill
Almost 1m UK households are hooked up to heat networks. None had protection from poor service or price hikes … until last month‘If I could move, I would – to a place without a heat network. But I can’t while this debt is hanging over me,” says Anja Georgiou.The mother lives with her family in a rented flat in the River Gardens development in Greenwich in south-east London where, three years ago, residents were shocked to be presented with a surprise £200,000 bill for heating and hot water. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Voluntary student loan repayments rise in England
Campaigners have criticised the terms of loans that were issued in England and still exist in Wales.
bbc.com
Google staff call for firm to cut ties with ICE
More than 900 Google employees signed a letter opposing company links to federal immigration actions.
bbc.com
Uber ordered to pay $8.5m over claim driver raped passenger
The verdict is expected to influence the outcome of thousands of other cases against the ride hailing firm.
bbc.com
YouTube's $60bn revenue revealed amid paid subscriber push
YouTube's total revenue last year surpassed that of rival streamer Netflix as it seeks to dominate TVs.
bbc.com
Most smart motorways not value for money, say reports
National Highways found only three out of 16 schemes are on track to deliver the financial benefits expected.
bbc.com
Kids can be the harshest critics…
The candidates test their story on a group of kids.
bbc.com
Should you overpay your mortgage or save?
Martin Lewis explains.
bbc.com
Bank of England chief 'shocked' at Mandelson emails
The Bank governor criticised emails between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein during the financial crisis.
bbc.com
Can robots ever be graceful?
Firms are working to make the motors that drive robots more efficient and cheaper.
bbc.com
UK interest rates held at 3.75% but Bank says future cuts likely
The Bank of England has kept borrowing costs unchanged but opened the door to cuts later this year.
bbc.com
Bank hints at rate cuts, but don't expect Covid-era mortgage deals
The Bank of England may have suggested more rate cuts are on the way, but they are unlikely to go much lower.
bbc.com
Watch: 20-tonne reservoir wall installed in three-day project
The steel structure was lowered into place at the new reservoir in a 72-hour continuous operation.
bbc.com
Silence and inaction - how audio helped prove captain guilty of North Sea tanker crash
The top detective investigating the tanker collision says there were early signs of gross negligence from Vladimir Motin
bbc.com
Are UK interest rates expected to fall soon?
The interest rate set by the Bank of England affects mortgage, loan and savings rates for millions.
bbc.com
Gary Neville returns to the Den
Gary Neville re-joins the dragons as they put another set of business hopefuls to the test.
bbc.com
The yachting industry searches for alternatives to teak
Prized for its beauty, teak is in short supply, forcing the yacht industry to look for alternatives.
bbc.com
The Chinese planemaker taking on Boeing and Airbus
Comac's passenger jet is attracting customers in South East Asia where demand for affordable aircraft is growing.
bbc.com
Asda has lost its mojo and has a big fight to get it back
The industry data suggests that despite Asda embarking on a turnaround, it has been losing ground to rivals.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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